Incubator



May 22, 1923. 1,456,005

J. HARRIS INCUBATOR 7 Filed July 24, 1922 2 She etsSheet -1 attain,-

May 22, 1923.

- Y J. HARRIS INCUBATOR I Filed July 24, 1922 2 Sheets-Shet 2" v Patented May 22, 1923.

WET-v Stars-S:

JACK-:HARRIS, or OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

INCUBA'IOR.

Application filed July -24;

To 'aZZ whom it'may'poncem:

Be it known" that I, J ACK' HARRIS; a I citi-l zen of the United States-residing *at'Oklahoina city, in the "county of Oklahoma and "State of Oldahomm'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubators, of whichthe following is a specification, ref-- erenoe being had to the accompanying drawings.'-'

The present invention hasfor its purpose the provisioiifiof an' incub-ato'r including a nest :for the lien, in orderth'at the eggs may be kept warm-or at the proper temperature from above, as we'll-"as from the heat 'genei ated below:

Another purpose is to'prov-ide anincubator including a =compartn1ent for the reception of an invertible egg tray, which is be low the'nestg and also the feather tray, which "protects the'eggs,-and" assists materially in retainino 'the'warmth to the eggsy-in a manner similar to the heat action from the hen.

Stillanother purpose is the provision of an incubator including a pair of-=heat Olllillflhers, one containing-an oil burner, the other I containing an ele'ctric heater, so that either heat apparatus may be employed for gene-rat ingthe heat in the chambers.

A further purpose i the provisionof" means for 'moiste'ning the heat "in the heat i chamber. v

It is to 'be understood that the particulars herein given are in no A way 'limitative' and l that while still kee'ping withinthe scope-oi the *invention, any i desired modifications 01 l detail and desired proportions may be made in the app aratus according to circumstances. i

The inventioncomp-rises I further features" 1 and 'com'bination of parts, as will be herein-x after set fortlh shown in the drawings and claiinedi I In the drawings:

Figure 1 "is a z-view-'-in' perspective of the improved "ineubator i constructed in accordance' with 'the invention Figure 2 is a vertical sec'tional view on line Q Q of Figure 1;

Figuredis "a" sectional view on line 3-3 of FigureQ;

Figurei is a vertiear sectional viewon line Figurefi is an enlargeddetail view in ele vation of" the egg trays, showing" how they are hooked together and how the sections are" liooked'to'getlier';

whi'oh is closed at three of its side's and pro f hen sets;- The canvas of 'the nest is secured:

1922f Serial'No. 577,139.

Figure 6 is a. detail perspective view of one": of 'thesections of one of the trays;

Figure '7 is an enlarged "detail vie'vvwof' a modified'form' of cover, which is vused in con-' nection with the inoutbato'r when the hen is not upon the-nest 5;

Referring to the drawings, I designatesu' theflincubator casing; the upperlportiono-f Whiohis provided witha compartment i2,1

vided with an opening 2 on its fourthlsideyiu therebeing a closure-orldoorQ for closing saideaopening. The top of theinoubator is open, and hasa coverB which is slatted,;to permitthe hen-to receive fresh air while set:-

-ting. Obviously when th'ehen' is not on the nest, therto p of the compartment iQ-inaywbe closed by" an entirely different 1 cover 3 Which-is hollow, and isafilled with feathers iin i order to retain the heat i-nv the compartment? 2, and-'alsoto keep out the -cold. This cover rhas a contracted-portion 3 which fits" within: the compartment 2 a substantial "dis tance.v ln fact the upper partkofwthe "cover" 3 is:construoted.of Wood or ithe'like whereas the contractediporti'on 3 is constructed:

froin.a heavily."stifliened fabric, for the purpose of Containing the feathers 8; The cover 3"- has a central openings .3 there being-,1 a':

slide damper 3 for controlling the escape *0 f 1 5 the egg trays and invert them, and reinsert them on their guides, without handling or touching the eggs.

Arranged below the egg trays is a suitable feather tray, which isdisposed in close position to the lower egg tray, thereby acting to keep the eggs in the tray warm, in a manner similar to the heat rising from the body of a hen. This feather tray comprises a frame 12, which has a covering of fabric, such as duck or canvas 13, which holds the feathers in place. In fact feathers 14 are arranged between the canvas faces, and feathers 15 are attached to. the upper and lower faces ofthe canvas pieces.

Suspended from-the under surface of the canvas 01' duck nest adjacent the corners thereof are feathers 16, which also act to retain the heat, and prevent those eggs which are not covered by the hen, from being chilled. I l

Aheat compartment 17 is provided below the feather tray, and arranged therein is a heat casing 18 provided with adoor 19.

This heat casing 18 contains an electric bulb 20, which receives current from any suitable source (not shown) over the wires or leads 21. opposite sides adjacent the top is provided with suitable damper controlled openings 22, for the purpose of regulating the heat in the chamber or compartment. In other words if the heat becomes too intense in the chamber or compartment 17 the dampers .22 of the openings 22 may be opened, sufli ciently to permit the escape of the heat, thereby reducing the temperature therein. The opposite sides of the compartment 17, particularly at their lower portions are provided with damper controlled openings 23,

the dampers. 23 of which maybe opened and regulated according to the temperature desired in the compartment, and according to the adjustment of the dampers of the openings 22, to insure regulation of the heat in the chamber.

Also mounted in the compartment or chamber 17 above the heat casing 18 is a suitable moistening apparatus 24:, which comprises a casing, for the reception of water. This casing of the moistening device may be any suitable shape, preferably elongated as shown, and the upper portion of the casing of the moistener is provided with plurality of openings or apertures v26,

the eggs from becoming too dry, during the incubation of the eggs.

The compartment or chamber 17 is provided with a suitable door or closure 27 which is hingedly mounted as at 28, for the purpose of retaining the heat in the com- The wall of the. compartment 17 at.

partment. The compartment which contains the egg trays and the feather tray is also provided with a door or closure 29, to permit access to the trays. It is obvious that the eggs may be readily turned, when such acti on is desired, without touching or handling the eggs.

The incubator casing is provided with a compartment or chamber 30 below the heat chamber 17 and mounted in the heat cham-' ber 30 is a suitable oil burner 31. The wall of the compartment is provided with openings or apertures 32 having dampers 33, and are adaptedfor permitting the escape of the smoke, and the intense heat. In fact by opening these dampers, the heat may be regulated. A suitable door or closure 3& is hingedly mounted to the lower portion of the incubator casing, for the purpose of closing the compartment 30. I,

The oil burner has an extension pipe 35 extending through the wall ofthe incubator casing, and which in turn is connected to a pipe section 36 by means of an elbow 37 The pipe section 86 is in turn connected to a pipe section 37 by means of a sleeve,nipple or fitting 38. The pipe section 37 connects to a suitable fuel tank 89., and is provided with a suitable valve 40, for controllingthe flow of oil or other fuel to the burner.

It is obvious that it is unnecessary to keep the incubator continually heated at all times,

for the reason that after heat has beenv supplied for a substantial period, the incubator will retain its heat for seven, eight or nine hours, especially in warm weather. Of course, in extreme cold weather the incubator will only retain the heat, after once being heated for about four or live hours, more or less, according to the temperature on the exterior.

Either one of the heating elements may be used for generating heat on the interior of the incubator. Preferably-the electric heating elementis employed when the henis setting, and the various dampers 22 and 23 are regulated for gauging the proper temperature in the chamber 17. The heatin the chamber 17 passes through. the perforated wall 17 and thence percolatesand also the through the feathers 15, feathers between the upper and lower canvases .14, and then through the canvases of the'egg trays, and thereby'insure incubator action upon the eggs which receive heat from above, due to the warmth ,de-

scending from the body ofthe' hen on'the nest 5. This descending heat together, with the feathers depending from the nest 5 .act to insure the proper temperature of the eggs from above. heat in the chamberv 1 7, the dampers :22

and 23 are adjusted accordingly, to. insure an intake, and a discharge.

When the heating element 2O is turned" To govern the temperature or off, the gas burner heating element may be turned on, and in this case dampers may be opened, to permit the heat from the chamber 30 to pass into the chamber 17 and thence to the upper compartments to the feather and egg trays. The lower part of the incubator is provided with the usual dampers 33 and 33 similar to the dampers 22 and 283 for governing the intake and escape of air in the chamber 30.

The wall of the entire casing of the incubator is hollow, and is filled with suitable feathers, to retain the heat on the interior of the incubator.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is 1. In an incubator, a casing having a hen compartment at its upper end including a nest, an egg tray compartment below the nest compartment, a heat compartment in the lower portion of the casing including a heater, for keeping the interior of the incubator warm and at the proper temperature to hatch the eggs.

2. In an incubator, a casing having a hen compartment at its upper end including a nest, an egg tray compartment below the nest compartment, a heat compartment in the lower portion of the casing including a heater, for keeping the interior of the incubator warm and at the proper temperature to hatch the eggs, and a moistening apparatus in the heat compartment.

3. In an incubator, a casing having a nest compartment at its upper end, a nest therein, invertible egg trays below the nest, and means suspended from the'under surface of the nest and terminating in close position to the egg trays, to retain the heat and acting to keep those eggs which are not directly under the hen warm.

I. In an incubator, a casing having a nest compartment at its upper end, a nest therein, invertible egg trays below the nest,

and means suspended from the under surface of the nest and terminating in close position to the egg trays, to retain the heat, and acting to keep those eggs which are not directly under the hen warm, and a feather tray arranged in the casing below the egg trays.

5. In an incubator, a casing includlng a heat compartment and the heater in the lower portion thereof, and provided with a nest compartment in its upper end, an

egg tray receiving compartment below the nest compartment, invertible egg tray-s mounted in the tray compartment, a nest in the nest compartment immediately above the egg trays, and a feather tray immediately below the egg trays, the feather tray be ing above the heat compartment, the heat from the nest when the hen is therein acting to keep the eggs warm on top, whereas the feathers of the feather tray retain the heat from the heat compartment and keep the eggs warm from the bottom.

6. In an incubator, a casing including a heat compartment and the heater in the lower portion thereof, and provided with a nest compartment in its upper end, an egg tray receiving compartment below the nest compartment, invertible egg trays mounted 1n the tray compartment, a nest in the nest compartment immediately above the egg trays, and a feather tray immediately below the egg trays, the feather tray being above the heat compartment, the heat from the nest when the hen is therein acting to keep the eggs warm on top, whereas the feathers of the feather tray retain the heat from the heat compartment and keep the eggs warm from the bot-tom, warmth retaining means suspended from the under surface of the nest, acting to keep those eggs which are not directly under the hen warm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JACK HARRIS. 

